Ending of Air [Archive] - AnimeSuki Forum

Jeiku

2006-08-25, 01:19

Then after Misuzu is dead, he resumes his human form.

Wha...? I've never seen anything like that in the TV series, unless it was the ending for the game anyhow...

I'm confident Yukito "died" in a sense at least. My theory is that he placed his spirit into the doll like how his mother had done when he was a child. Through this, Yukito was reincarnated as Sora, somehow... Perhaps because his will to find and help Misuzu was so strong. Also, because Yukito in his human form was simply not good enough, he was unable help Misuzu, but as Sora he could finally look at her in an entirely alternate perspective through speculation. Misuzu finally achieved her "goal" and died, but unlike her tragic predecessors, her life ended with good memories - memories with Yukito and especially with her mother, who was a great driving force for her as well.

... At this point though the curse has not been ended yet. Misuzu's memories were left with Sora, who had to soar beyond the point any human can reach by themselves, the sky, and bring those memories to "she who is waiting in the air," the girl with wings. I believe at this point, the curse finally has been lifted, and the winged girl's pain finally ends after one thousand summers, or something like that. As for Yukito/Sora's fate... who knows. I kind of doubt he goes back to being a human really, but eh. So there's my view on the ending of AIR, and... yeah.

NoSanninWa

2006-08-25, 01:25

Okay, I'll admit it is just my interpretation that he'd reverse the spell and return to humanity. I just don't like the throught of him trapped as a crow for the rest of his life.

Wow I missed that entirely. :heh: Did Misuzu actually die? I remember her losing her memory but then she regained it and was happy again with her mother.:
Yes. Misuzu died at the end. That is absolute.

Rengemaru

2006-08-25, 05:49

I'm confident Yukito "died" in a sense at least. My theory is that he placed his spirit into the doll like how his mother had done when he was a child. Through this, Yukito was reincarnated as Sora, somehow... Perhaps because his will to find and help Misuzu was so strong. Also, because Yukito in his human form was simply not good enough, he was unable help Misuzu, but as Sora he could finally look at her in an entirely alternate perspective through speculation.
Although this whole topic has been discussed in this topic (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26310) but from what I read, he sacrificed his body (or his life, you pick) to give Misuzu more time alive to spend with her mother.

Shiroth

2006-08-26, 19:51

I just don't like the throught of him trapped as a crow for the rest of his life.
Yeah, its kinda hard to believe that such an amazing character that Yukito is, has to live the rest of his life like that - and of course, with no memory apart from a few lil' flickers here and there.

After the first time of watching Air back when it was airing, clicking onto the fact that Yukito is no more ended up in me just breaking down.. i didn't wanna believe it. But still, to this day - he shall always be my number 01 character.

Jeiku

2006-08-26, 22:00

For me it was a tad disappointing to see Yukito "die" as well... He went through the most development in the entire series, besides Misuzu's mother perhaps, and underwent quite a drastic change from the beginning to end. ... Hell, I could probably say he's my favourite character in AIR as well. To me though, Yukito's fate isn't very important since he finally succeeded in helping the girl waiting in the air, which was what I was hoping for by the very end... But if I had to say something perhaps he was reincarnated as another human, going by the anime's theme of starting a new beginning and repeating the cycle somewhat. Except this time there'll be no more curse. Hmm.

As for Yukito giving Misuzu more time to spend with her mother... I do not think so, personally. He did give her an extraordinary amount of motivation she needed to reach her "goal" though, which was probably what kept Misuzu alive a little bit longer, because she refused to rest until then.

Deathkillz

2006-08-26, 22:48

Okay, I'll admit it is just my interpretation that he'd reverse the spell and return to humanity. I just don't like the throught of him trapped as a crow for the rest of his life.

yes denial is the way :p
yes the ending was too cruel...it could possibly be one of the worst (saddest) ending ive ever seen...made me cry to see misuzu and yukito not have a future :(

panzerfan

2006-08-26, 23:32

http://trinityblood.net/animagik9/konosono/?p=649

It gives a whole new look at the tragedy... (makes me scare of rich and pulpy somehow)

Minoto

2006-08-26, 23:54

http://trinityblood.net/animagik9/konosono/?p=649

It gives a whole new look at the tragedy... (makes me scare of rich and pulpy somehow)

Ha...I seem to remember a joking thread on another forum, in which the weird juice was blamed for the extraordinary thickness of Haruko's tear trails in the aozora scene as well...

Rengemaru

2006-08-27, 17:07

As for Yukito giving Misuzu more time to spend with her mother... I do not think so, personally. He did give her an extraordinary amount of motivation she needed to reach her "goal" though, which was probably what kept Misuzu alive a little bit longer, because she refused to rest until then.
Misuzu went to sleep and wanted to stay asleep, she even thought she will never wake up again. But Yukito wanted her to wake up from the bottom of his heart. Thus placing that wish into the doll and sacrificing himself for it.
All of this was discussed in this Thread (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=26310)

*Root_316*

2006-09-03, 11:43

well.....from what i think.....Yukito doesnt "die", he transforms into sora the crow, then he goes through everything again with misuzu, and he can stick by her so she can be happy....but then in the ending it says " ill always be with her" and "say hello to her for me if you see her"....So i think she died and then she was reborn..for some reason, but yukito cant stay with her. That is why he is leaving on the train.(This is what i think, im waiting for someone to tell me what really happened)

rei

2006-09-04, 07:58

http://trinityblood.net/animagik9/konosono/?p=649

It gives a whole new look at the tragedy... (makes me scare of rich and pulpy somehow)If that is true though, then Hijiri (Kano's elder sister / the doctor - for those who are not familiar with the name) would have noticed the cause of Misuzu's illness. :eyebrow:

Reives

2006-09-04, 08:29

If that is true though, then Hijiri (Kano's elder sister / the doctor - for those who are not familiar with the name) would have noticed the cause of Misuzu's illness. :eyebrow:
Aw c'mon, don't spoil those precious light-hearted jokes. :p

rei

2006-09-04, 10:17

I guess I don't know that was intended to be a joke :eyespin:

Rengemaru

2006-09-05, 08:08

Does anyone know exactly where to find a juice similer to it? I wanna taste it

frad113

2006-09-05, 22:32

Haha, funny that you should mention it, at the loca A&P, there is a Taiwanese peach drink. Not quite super concentrated though... Or check your friendly Asian Food Market for something similar.

Reives

2006-09-21, 23:06

I think I'm drinking what you are referring to right now actually; only that it's the mango version...

(Webcam pic)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/Reivier/Picture001.jpg

johnnybabe

2006-10-06, 16:42

that doesnt look deadly
the one in the anime was pink and super kawaii and probably tasted worse than diet coke

yellowkaiq

2006-10-08, 22:16

eh, just watched this entire series, and loved it. The Aozora scene was a little overdone, i think.

I guess it's one of those animes that doesn't make you feel sad until you stop to think about it after it ends. Damn, wish there was more.

flair627

2006-10-16, 15:40

Actually, I always thought that the 1000th summer, the year that the curse was broken, wasnt actually when Misuzu died with good memories and Yukito in turn flew them to the girl in the sky. I think that this happened a couple of years after the 1000th summer....and that the 1000th summer is the year that the two children were born, the two children we see walking down hand in hand on the beach in the end. I think that these two are Misuzu/Kanna and Yukito/Ryu reincarnated...made possible with all those overlapping timelines in this anime (like Sora being able to suddenly appear all the way back at the beginning).

If i remember correctly, the two children weren't there the first time Yukito and Misuzu met, and only showed in their meeting when Sora was there...

rei

2006-10-17, 03:30

If i remember correctly, the two children weren't there the first time Yukito and Misuzu met, and only showed in their meeting when Sora was there...
Actually, the 2 children were there but they didn't show it in the 1st episode. :)

AIR TV Ep 1 (around 5min 17sec or so)

Misuzu: Will you go to the beach?

Yukito: Why would I?

Misuzu: Because I want to play

Yukito: Huh?

Misuzu: Yesterday, the little kids were playing at the beach. I kept thinking that it seemed fun & that I wanted to play too, while next to the sleeping you.

flair627

2006-10-17, 14:47

Ah well, then I'd like to think that the moment Yukito met Misuzu, it was destined that the curse would be broken ^^

Lord Faust

2006-10-19, 13:18

Hello. I'm new here.

Ah yes, Air TV , the ending in itself is left much to the viewer's intepretation as the show itself is filled with symbolism of many sorts. Any ways Air TV was the anime that made me hooked into anime indefinitely. Since many has posted their thoughts on the ending I guess the least I could do is to post a link that helped me answer some of the similar questions I had too after watching the anime.

http://cupped-expressions.net/air/

Sorry if it is very old, and please do remember that this is also one of many ways to interpret the show...^_^

Snowgoose

2006-10-24, 12:32

K3cT

2006-12-01, 04:53

Interesting. I always thought that the little girl in the ending of AIR TV is a reincarnation of Kanna with a clean-state of memory (she also has blue hair, starkingly similar with Kanna!). The boy is more ambiguous though but I somehow think that he is part-Ryuuya, part-Yukito.

I want to play the game now so I can understand the story deeper. :(

panzerfan

2006-12-01, 05:38

I hope that the boy isn't Yuuichi... for what lies beyond Yuuichi's childhood memories are cruel days as well.

Panky

2006-12-01, 10:23

For those who didn't understand why he turned himself into a crow... re-view episode 1. You will see a crow, maybe that would help. It's incredible how they have all the events of the history created before they finish it.

Also : a curious thing is the name of the sake ; read it : Journeying crow

Another : see 14:38 when he runs the dog, you will see a television with something that looks the samurai history beyond this history.

Neaco

2006-12-02, 01:15

Another newbie, though I've been simply reading the forums for sometime. Forums are deathly scary to me. >.>

This probably isn't so much of an explanation/theory, but I somehow draw a little visual symbolism with the Kids On the Beach with Kanna and Ryuuya's art in the Summer Special ED. Both of them are holding hands. Both of them are in front of the beach. And like in the AIR logo, Ryuuya is just a little offscreen, and we see both of them from their backs.

I know it probably refers to Kanna's 'unspoken wish' to live by the sea, the last 'dream' she had with Ryuuya and Uraha, but the imagery remains interesting. The positioning seems a little coincidental for the usual "ED prettiness"---though of course this could have alluded to like five themes at once...

Interesting viewpoint. I actually have thought of this a little myself in addition to a few things I know that many probably haven't thought about. Although I doubt the anime's writers thought of it this deeply.

Ryuuya did say a line back during the last scene with Kanna about bringing her to the Ocean. and he actually said (at least in one of the sub versions) he'd like it to be on the western side of Japan where the water was warmer.

I am uncertain of this part which the general area where the Summer Arc takes place. From Koi's notes, they say it could be Kishuu, or Kii province which is on the eastern side of Japan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kii

Interestingly enough the modern day setting of the AIR story takes place in a real town called Kami (formerly called Katsumi) which is on western shore of Japan... Numerous scenes and locations are identical to those of the real life town.

Even if the story's setting can't be verified as the town of Kami, the anime itself proves it's on the western side of Japan because they show the sun setting over the ocean in the west, something you can't see on most of the eastern shores.

I don't think viewers were meant to research it this deeply or if it was even done on purpose by Key or the writers. But you have to wonder...

Rall)eon117X

2006-12-12, 19:18

Just a little random thought:

I know Misuzu was just basically Kanna's spirit reincarnated into a whole new body (or something along those lines), but did anyone want to still see Misuzu with full fledged wings like I wanted to? ^^"

Rengemaru

2006-12-13, 05:18

I don't think viewers were meant to research it this deeply or if it was even done on purpose by Key or the writers. But you have to wonder...
I have to disagree on that point. Although I don't have a solid proof but a story like this should be deep, no they must be deep. Think about this way, the writers have places alot of effort into this story so they must've gone those extra miles and made it as deep as it is. Any writer would understand this.

x-X-MiSuZu-SX-x

2007-01-07, 17:12

Yup! I wanted to see Misuzu With wings too! :p I also thought that Misuzu should have carried around Yukito's doll as well as the dinosaur that her mother got her...

PiccoloUE

2007-01-17, 14:15

Was cruising for a series to watch and picked this up after seeing dropped in some threads. I have to say it was pretty enjoyable, though I was no fan of the end.

I don't know why but after I saw the last 2 episodes I was just kind of sick of it all. Not that I don't have a soft side (I still can't watch CC again and I put the manga in storage since it tore me apart so bad) but I think it got so big that it tore the emotion out of it. I think they just tried entirely to hard to make it so dramatic and sad.

I bet this might be due to the game since things have to be a bit bigger in that format. Though I could be wrong since I never played it. As for now I am blaming it on the game.

I wish I could explain it better, I just wish they made things a little more natural.

blitz1/2

2007-01-19, 08:15

The ending was pretty open. I don't really get it.

Lenmiaalsa

2007-02-22, 21:36

I think Kanna is all the girls who had ailments. They all had a feather after they died. A seperated spirit...

Sai the Dreamer

2007-02-25, 18:04

I think Kanna is all the girls who had ailments. They all had a feather after they died. A seperated spirit...

Kanna is Misuzu. Her guardian, Ryuya, is Yukito. Those are both facts. :heh:

SealedTears

2007-02-26, 01:00

Kanna is Misuzu. Her guardian, Ryuya, is Yukito. Those are both facts. :heh:

i dont think thats totaly rigth, misuzu isent actualy kanna. she's a girl born with kanna's curse, same gues for yukito he isent ryuya, he simly carrys hes scare.

the girl/girl's born with the curse like misuzu is simply there to bring back good memories to kanna to "break" the curse, yukito gave up hes body to become sora and gave misuzu more "life time" to get some good memeories with her mom.

atlest thats how i think about it

Ziv

2007-02-26, 20:23

i dont think thats totaly rigth, misuzu isent actualy kanna. she's a girl born with kanna's curse, same gues for yukito he isent ryuya, he simly carrys hes scare.

the girl/girl's born with the curse like misuzu is simply there to bring back good memories to kanna to "break" the curse, yukito gave up hes body to become sora and gave misuzu more "life time" to get some good memeories with her mom.

atlest thats how i think about it

No, Misuzu is a partial reincarnation of Kanna. That's why she's more significant than Kano or Minagi. It's also what causes her to have pain in her "wings" and eventually die. They explain it in the "summer" arc (episodes 8-9). A human trying to contain the soul of a winged being is like trying to hold an ocean in a bucket. Eventually the human container will burst. That's what happens to Misuzu.

Keirn

2007-03-05, 23:23

Yeah, I read that the two children were the reincarnations of Misuzu and Yukito. Also, you do see the to children at some point during the show, Misuzu waves to them one time when they are on the beach (other than at the ending I mean)
I'm not sure which episode it is though, I'll sift through them and tell you later.

EDIT: Found it. The beginning of episode 10 just after the opening

Jaden

2007-03-06, 03:31

Huh, I thought that Yukito is Ruuya's descendant.
Ruuya wasn't able to get rid of Kanna's curse and didn't have much life left himself, so he made babies with...uh, forgot name...Kanna's teacher anyway. And she would teach their children magic in hopes that they find a way to decurse Kanna.
And finally there's Yukito, but his mother dies before teaching him much. And then there's probably the last chance for the curse to be lifted but Yukito is powerless against it. So it's quite a sad ending, no?

Rengemaru

2007-03-07, 05:25

Ziv

2007-03-07, 18:42

Yukito's mother died (or let's just say disappeared) because she sealed her unfulfilled wish into the puppet (that was passed down from Uraha, Kanna's maid) and Yukito did the same thing. He sacrificed his human body and used the powers sealed inside the puppet to awaken Misuzu from her fatel sleep (see ep7 at last 5 minutes) and gave her more time to spend with her mother.

Misuzu gained happy memories and when she died, she took them back to Kanna. This caused the curse to be lifted and Kannas soul was once agained reincarnated (the little girl with blue hair at the end).

If you want to conclude that yourself, go dig the Q&A topic.

There's two curses. One that makes her unable to have friends lest she and her friend both die, and the curse that's making her reincarnate into bodies that are too small for her soul. Only the curse that kept her from making friends was broken. That's why Sora flies away at the end in search of Kanna.

Ahiru77

2007-03-13, 14:59

The ending was really sad....i mean REALLY sad ^_^''....but still BBM takes the crown on sadness.

Misuzu shouldn''t have died....

K3cT

2007-03-15, 03:48

Only the curse that kept her from making friends was broken

This is actually debatable, judging from the materials from the game. The anime didn't make it clear enough I think, mentioned at several points but not enough to leave an impression.

harukamae

2007-03-16, 04:27

I think Yukito became a crow because he was too close to Misuzu as a human - if he stayed by her side any longer, she would perish, but as a crow, he could still watch over her and fulfill his mission, since Misuzu is the container for Kanna's apparently ocean sized soul.

I agree maybe the two kids are a "clean" reincarnation, without a curse. Or maybe they're just random kids who symbolize the whole summer romance theme. I dunno...still very disappointed with a show that had such lovely visuals, music and interesting plot, but such flat, poorly written characters.

TigerII

2007-03-16, 17:58

Not sure of the kids being the clean reincarnation, but I think the curse was broken.

fairy_mouse

2007-03-19, 09:23

But do you guys really thinks that Misuzu has to die, I think the ending somehow too cruel, I have watched this anime series for many times (more than 10, I gues...) but I really link the scene when Misuzu was supposed to flew in front of the ocean with her hands.

@Rei: Which anime that your signature is? Can you introduce me to your favourite?

nihaha

2007-04-08, 06:31

hmm...guess we have to play the game ver to find out more about the ending..
the two children should be the reincarnation of mizusu & yukito without the curse.
since the little girl(reincarnated mizusu) can now be friend with peoples.

A_AQUARE

2007-04-09, 07:18

I gotta ask how many ver are there 2 air i got 2 diff ones wit one storyline my bro bought cause he thought its diff(not ova):confused:

andiyar

2007-04-09, 23:06

Two (three) anime adaptations - Air TV, and Air the Movie. They are both based off the same source material, but are different in adaptation and plot.

There's also the Air in Summer OVAs, but they're an extension of Air TV. So two. :)

-Andiyar

A_AQUARE

2007-04-16, 08:42

thanks doll..... that clears eveythin..:)

Black Eye

2007-04-17, 12:18

the show is great as well as it's ending although it was a very sad one *couldn't stop my tears*

hmm so the two children were the reincarnation of mizusu & yukito without the curse ?!

Maritime

2007-04-17, 12:45

Misuzu is the reincarnation of Kanna, it's mentioned in the anime that Kanna was cursed to be reborn over and over again in a human body only to suffer and eventually die without ever knowing happiness. It's also stated that the reincarnations would die young as "the soul of a winged being is too much for a human body to contain".

Yukito is a descendant of Ryūya and Uraha, that explains the whole "story passed down from parent to child" speech we heard Yukito's mother explain to a young Yukito. This was confirmed at the end of the Feudal-era episode in which Uraha agrees to have a child with Ryūya in the hopes that someday their family would find a way to break the curse.

Yukito became Sora after his plea for a "second chance" to save Misuzu, my theory is that gave his life and the power contained within the puppet to finally break the reincarnation curse, however, that couldn't prevent Misuzu's death due to the "winged beings soul in a human body" factor.

The identities of children at the end are, I believe, Kanna and Ryūya finally living their lives together as normal human children.

Rengemaru

2007-04-19, 17:09

But do you guys really thinks that Misuzu has to die, I think the ending somehow too cruel
Well I think her death scene (aozora) was rather beautiful and very touching. Yes, it too cruel and every time I see it I start crying no matter what. But her death was an essential part in breaking Kanna's curse, so it was inevitable. Think of it this way and this cruel ending would turn into a beautiful ending (bittersweet yes, but not sad). Or so I think~
I have watched this anime series for many times (more than 10, I gues...)
Dear friend a salute you, finally another person who enjoys watching the show over and over again. For me I watched it 16 times (and cried 16 times each time I watch aozora scene) and hopefully the 17th time is next week.

Kinny Riddle

2007-04-20, 07:25

Spending the past two months doing nothing but going through the AIR visual novel and the Kyo-Ani anime, I must say I'm very impressed with the intricate storyline.

Though it's a pity it's only 12 episodes, it's amazing that Kyo-Ani manages to compress the moving story in such a short timeframe without missing anything important, though the pace is a bit fast.

Before seeing the ending, I never knew reincarnation isn't constrained by time, Yukito being the best example, he "died" on July 31st (date in the game) and "reappeared" as Sora sometime before July 16th, when Misuzu adopted him, and the next day, he came across his former incarnation. If the speculation of the people before me are correct, then the boy and girl in the ending are the reincarnations of Ryuuya/Yukito and Kanna/Misuzu.

The boy prophetically saying "Goodbye" to the current Yukito and Misuzu seems to imply that the boy somehow preserves some of the "memories" of past lives.

Yukito has got to be the coolest bishoujo game protagonist ever since the genre began, Kanon's Yuuichi (even without Sugita's perceived "Kyon-ish" influence) comes a close second.

Concerning his "death" and "re-birth" as Sora, while some may see it as a pity that he'll have to live the rest of his life as a crow, I think otherwise. Normally when you re-incarnate, the memories of your past life are wiped out, meaning Sora genuinely believes he is a crow, nothing more, nothing less.

Due to Yukito and his ancestors' powers, all the way from Uraha, and accumulated in the near thousand-year-old doll, Sora is able to re-call Yukito's memories at the right place and right time in order to accomplish the task his mother entrusted him (to "save" Kanna/Misuzu), after that, he becomes the crow Sora once again, losing all of Yukito's memories.

This is evident in the game's narrative, Sora calls himself "Boku". When he returned as Yukito, the narrative switched to Yukito's usual "Ore". After reassuring Misuzu that he'll always be with her, he loses his memories and the narrative reverts back to using "Boku" again.

I'm going to have to re-watch this just to see how many times Sora appears before his previous incarnation.

While the narrator for the AIR arc is Sora/Yukito, unlike Yukito and Ryuuya in the Dream and Summer Arcs, by being a crow, Sora takes on a more or less observer role, while the protagonist role would be passed on to Haruko, whose development from seeming cold, uncaring aunt to passionate young mother is just amazing. Hisakawa Aya's performance only serves to strengthen her strong personality.

(When I first heard Hisakawa doing her Kansai-ben on Haruko, I thought I was watching Cardcaptor Sakura all over again. :D )

Kinny Riddle

2007-04-22, 10:49

Seeing the two AIR in Summer OVAs has further convinces me of the theory that the boy and girl at the ending of the AIR arc is the reincarnation of Ryuuya/Yukito and Kanna/Misuzu. The ending animation in the credits by Kyo-Ani seems to suggest it, as it shows Kanna holding hands with Ryuuya, much like how the boy and girl did in the ending and in the logo of the series itself.

Wuya

2007-04-23, 08:15

I first saw an AMV of this anime, and got curious on the plot..

i watched the movie first, and if i had the complete set, i would have prefered movie>>>anime>>>game since each reveals more (though game is impossible for me to read so no point for now, sadly no translations/english verison).

the movie was sad, and i thought the anime would answer more questions (not from the movie, but i got preview of plot from reviews and stuff).

it ended up with more sadness and questions than before i watched the anime.. but wow.
i really liked the anime for the addtional story of the other girls, sadly they did not really play any other role throughtout the story, though they made appearences.

toward the end, it really made me feel a bit sick too... but it was only facing the inevitable.

i will watch AIR in summer later today and that will finish the series. I will probably rewatch the entire movie and anime sometime, assuming my heart can take it XD
guess im just weak hearted little guy ...

but damn.. so deep.. really makes me want the whole story!

I will seek Q and A for some reading later and hopefully it has answers to my question..

so good of a story, i wish i had 100% of it.....

KeiKei-chan

2007-04-25, 08:50

Hello,
I don't really know "Air" that well.
But May I know what's the story about???

Wuya

2007-04-25, 11:52

if you need a summary, try searching in wikipedia for a description, i think it will be enough for an overview and more if you want to read more of it.

I would advise you get the AIR the movie and watch it first, then watch the anime series- TV and summer speical- (in order of increasing story depth and movie is different so "less" spoilers in a way).

it is a tragic/magical story with real word elements/setting since it was based on real locations.

i really enjoyed it, though having tears in my eyes and a wrenched heart isnt exactly what guys want to feel like after watching a movie or show XD

ibreatheanime

2007-04-25, 15:18

The series is rather emotional... I've been watching it on www.crunchyroll.com however it also can be rather confusing, I haven't watched the summer special yet... is it any good??

Wuya

2007-04-25, 16:18

The summer specials are just "expansion" to the 2 flashback episodes. If you are addicted to air at that point, you may finish/end off by watching it.

to me it acted as a

1. happy "closure" to a sad series
2. closer look at the Kanna-Ryuuya-Urha relationships

it is only 2 episodes

Samatarou

2007-04-25, 17:52

Hello, I don't really know "Air" that well.
But May I know what's the story about???
if you need a summary, try searching in wikipedia for a description, i think it will be enough for an overview and more if you want to read more of it.

I would advise you get the AIR the movie and watch it first, then watch the anime series
I don't think you'll find general agreement on this watching order, most people feel you should watch the TV series first because the movie is far too big a spoiler for the TV plot, and as the movie is generally regarded as a much lesser work spoilers in the other direction are not so big a deal. It's possible to argue for either ordering though I suppose. For me, the relationship between AirTV and movie is identical to the relationship between Twin Peaks (TV) and Fire Walk With Me (movie) in that the TV version has a supernatural explanation and the movie then retells the same story using a non-supernatural explanation. (However these days, most people probably don't know Twin Peaks....)

As for checking out wiki articles etc I'm wary about that too, it's easy to take the edge off a story by learning too much about it. Just the description of one of the characters in the first paragraph of the Air wiki article constitutes a MAJOR spoiler for something we're not supposed to learn until episode 5 (and yet it's something that every Air character guide I've seen thoughtlessly reveals).

In general I would say, if you think you might like to watch a series, then STOP reading any anime forums that discuss it at all and start watching it. In the case of Air you will know within 2 or 3 episodes if you like it.

In my case I know that I've had several series spoiled or at least the enjoyment diminished due to reading stuff on forums, even in general forums people often blurt stuff out without thinking and once you've learnt some key tidbit of information it's practically impossible to unlearn it.

If you want a non-spoiler intro to Air, this is what I wrote a couple of years ago when I first started watching it:
At last I’m hooked on an anime series again, for the first time in around four months! The series I’m talking about is Air, which I will characterise as a cross between To Heart and Haibane Renmei. It’s about an indolent wandering youth, Yukito, who arrives in a sleepy seaside town and tries to make money with a rather lame animated stuffed toy which performs for passers-by.

Only there are no passers-by, no tourists anyhow, just a few local teenage girls who wander around aimlessly in ones and twos like himself. Everyone is a bit weird, but easy-going (except for the inevitable little brats), and Yukito finds himself drawn into friendships with these girls who basically have nothing better to do with their lives except meander around with their heads full of dreams.

Like To Heart, it seems a very gentle drama, but as in Haibane Renmei—or perhaps more like Twin Peaks?—you get the feeling that this is not an ordinary place, there is a subtle presence of magic which insinuates itself into things, from the dog called Potato who is like a four-legged Pikachu, to the girl Kano who claims to have magical powers but then laughs it off only to be seen enveloped in a strange light a little while later. Yukito is searching for a girl with wings that his mother once told him about, a girl who flies high in the sky, and the girls in this town have dreams of flying.

Air does not disappoint. I love the big skies, the towering fluffy white clouds, it reminds me of Hoshi no Koe in that respect, and is very appropriate given the title of the series. There’s a wonderful feeling of summer with its sunny but changeable weather, it’s hot but always clouds hovering in the background, bringing to mind the freshness rain brings. The wonderful atmosphere of Air really is atmosphere in a literal sense.

Skyfall

2007-04-25, 18:51

Aye... i also agree one should watch the series before the movie. With the movie you will have effectively spoiled the ending of the much longer watch that is the series. Only thing that the movie doesn't spoil is the stories of the other girls, because those are simply not covered in the movie. But the main story will be spoiled completely. (The movie also has actual romance, opposed to the series)

And nothing wrong with feeling like curling up in a corner after watching this... Air is, probably, one of the saddest things i have ever seen.

ibreatheanime

2007-04-25, 20:21

I agree that it is extremly sad. After watching 4 episodes in a row, I just wanted to cry. (the fansubb I was watching actually advised at the beginnings of some of the later episodes to bring tissues because they are so sad)

Also thanks Wuya for explaning the two summer special episodes!

KeiKei-chan

2007-04-26, 05:55

Neaco

2007-04-26, 19:10

If you're watching and enjoying Kanon, then watching AIR should be natural as those two are both done by Key.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_%28visual_novel%29

Myrina

2007-05-04, 16:48

>.> I admit... I cried more then I ever have to any anime in the last 3 or four eps..
;_;
It was a great anime though.

DJ_RockmanX

2007-05-05, 01:31

Just finished marathoning the TV series, and I must say that's gotta be one of the saddest things I've ever seen.

If you're not crying by the end of this thing you're not human. :upset:

Wuya

2007-05-05, 11:25

oh good, i thought i was turning into a wuss or something... XD

Rengemaru

2007-05-10, 14:32

oh good, i thought i was turning into a wuss or something... XD

don't worry we all cried at the end. And we even cry when we see it again.

celcius

2007-05-10, 20:13

I didn't even need to see AIR... I was just listening to AIR music and remembering some stuff while replying to some posts and I already felt like "a dirt got blown in my eye". :heh:

dahilig007

2007-05-11, 21:31

The heck i hate the ending of Air >_<

Angel Wings

2007-05-18, 16:43

i hoped that the ending would be nice, and she didnt die... I had a hard time not to cry ;;

Samatarou

2007-05-21, 17:57

Re. Misuzu's fate, remember she brought it on herself by drinking all that gut-rotting peach juice concentrate! (Mind you Yukito or someone should have stopped her.) The fact that she was always falling over shows she was already in a bad way with peach-clogged arteries even in episode 1.

dahilig007

2007-05-22, 17:48

The thing is THe main CHaracter died!!

The heck...

felix

2007-05-22, 18:00

And nothing wrong with feeling like curling up in a corner after watching this... Air is, probably, one of the saddest things i have ever seen.
Same for me. :upset:
It has a way of leaving that feeling of: you've tried your best but alas, you were marked to fail before you even started.
All the mystery in the show and the small confusion elements really add to the feeling that you made a big unfixible mistake somewhere.

Lordshin

2007-05-23, 23:06

Man... i loved this series :P As much as i loved the Kanon remake...
But i feel that it was kinda rushed.... maybe after watching Kanon it felt rushed :P
But I thought the movie was HORRIBLE >< i didnt like it at all... i dont see how someone who has never watched the anime would be able to follow it...

I hope they're planning a 24 episode remake xD I wanna watch more of the summer arc :P Loved the extra eps :D Kanna, Ryuuya and Uraha were my favorite characters :P oh.. and dont forget Potato :D

zrdb

2007-05-24, 14:41

Thank gosh there are still very good quality fansubs of Air floating around out in the wilds of the internet-but Air was one series that I was addicted to the 1st time I viewed an episode a few years ago, yes it is very sad as are both versions of Kanon. I think I've rewatched it about 5 times since then-and for me to rewatch a series that many times-it has to be excellent.

KittiKat16

2007-05-30, 01:45

I hope they make a season 2. It shouldn't end this way. So sad... T.T

Wuya

2007-05-30, 11:33

I hope they make a season 2. It shouldn't end this way. So sad... T.T

...nope, thats the story actually ends...

Key's stories will do that to you...

Samatarou

2007-05-30, 16:57

It was poorly explained in the anime though. If they'd used the 13th episode as extra story time instead of a cut and paste clip job; and if they'd made a better ending to episode 12 than vacuous speeches by the minor characters trying to justify their places in the plot, then it would have been a whole lot better. Air was unavoidably tragic, but thanks to the lack of any coherent explanation the ending was also needlessly sour.

zrdb

2007-05-31, 10:03

You think Air is tragic? Go read Key's "visual novels" such as Planetarium or Clannad.

Samatarou

2007-06-01, 14:34

It's plenty tragic enough for me, I'm not the "Grave of the Fireflies" type, I don't set out to watch sad anime, it just seems to keep happening that a lot of the series I watch end up being rather tragic. (I knew nothing about Air when I started watching it, other than that someone had said it was beautifully drawn, and generally I prefer things that way, knowing nothing more about a series than the episodes I've seen so far.)

K3cT

2007-06-09, 13:45

Rengemaru

2007-06-09, 15:13

It's tragic if you consider Misuzu's death. But a happy ending if you consider the fact that Misuzu and Kanna are the same person (Misuzu is a part of Kanna's soul) so in the end she came back to live a normal and hopefully happy life.

Now after ignoring any thoughts of AIR for the past 2 months, I'm gonna rewatch it again with no detailed memories of the show, resulting in a similar experience to the 1st time I watched it! God I love this show!

Kai1

2007-06-12, 16:21

I wouldn't say it is profound because most anime endings don't give a definite conclusion. That way you can draw your own conclusion and possibly for a sequel.

The beach-reunion scene at the end of ep11 was so heavy. Just like many others have said, I couldn't stop crying for a while. One of the few anime scenes that trigger so much emotion.

Samatarou

2007-06-14, 20:37

AIR's ending is damn profound too. Tragic? Not really I guess since what Misuzu and Yukito are trying to accomplish has been achieved. At the very least, their sacrifices were all not for nothing. That was exactly what I didn't feel though. At the end of episode 12 I did feel that their sacrifices were all for nothing, that was what made it so depressing. It was only through reading lots of other opinions on the series that I began to see it was possible to find a positive interpretation of the events, and although I now feel the curse probably was broken, I'm still damned if I can explain it to anyone else in a way that sounds convincing. For one thing, if in principle it is impossible for a human to contain the soul of a winged being, then only by stopping the cycle of reincarnation can Kanna find peace, yet we apparently see another incarnation at the end.. unless the little girl is meant to be someone else, eg. Uraha?

Mirrinus

2007-06-19, 02:38

Curse my inability to resist spoiling myself! I just had to go and read this entire thread when I've only seen 2 episodes of AIR so far...this is almost as bad as when I read kj1980's Matsuribayashi-hen translation after watching only 6 or 7 episodes of Higurashi, or how I've read Hinano's entire CLANNAD game storyline synopsis. I have only myself to blame.

Although...this didn't really spoil all that much for me. I think I've already picked up most of the plot points simply through browsing anime forums and blogs. Besides, I have no problem with being spoiled...

Anyway, the only two episodes I've seen so far are episode 1...and episode 12 (I knew enough of the story to not be lost with ep 12...plus, I know about EFZ Misuzu's Final Memory, which is spoilerific enough). I know. Kagikkos may proceed to chase me with torches and pitchforks now. But I will say that AIR episode 12 officially makes my list of "Really Good Episode 12's", which includes other fantastic episodes like "Live A Live", "Deviant Waltz", "Discovered Attack", and "Twilight of the Papers". Yes, I blatantly stole this from Jason Miao of AoMM, who made quite a good point in noticing how episode 12's were usually among the best of many good series.

OK, I'm done rambling. Proceed to mock me now. >_<

Ziv

2007-06-19, 06:05

That was exactly what I didn't feel though. At the end of episode 12 I did feel that their sacrifices were all for nothing, that was what made it so depressing. It was only through reading lots of other opinions on the series that I began to see it was possible to find a positive interpretation of the events, and although I now feel the curse probably was broken, I'm still damned if I can explain it to anyone else in a way that sounds convincing. For one thing, if in principle it is impossible for a human to contain the soul of a winged being, then only by stopping the cycle of reincarnation can Kanna find peace, yet we apparently see another incarnation at the end.. unless the little girl is meant to be someone else, eg. Uraha?

There were two curses. One made it so that Kanna's reincarnations couldn't make friends lest they and their friend die (given to her when she hugged her mother), and the other is what's causing her to constantly reincarnate (given to her by the Buddhist monks) The first curse was broken since Misuzu was given happy memories, just as Yukito said it would. However, it's left up to speculation whether the second one will ever be broken, and if not, Kanna will continue to reincarnate into bodies that will never live past 16. Sora is shown flying away to find Kanna at the end, presumably so he can break the second curse. In addition, the children shown are most likely Yukito and Misuzu's reincarnations. So although it leaves some things unanswered, it hints at hope.

The thing that kept it sad for me was that regardless of whether Misuzu reincarnates or not, there'll still never be another Misuzu. Kanna was nothing like Misuzu, so I wasn't particularly happy about the attempt to make the ending hopeful.

Curse my inability to resist spoiling myself! I just had to go and read this entire thread when I've only seen 2 episodes of AIR so far...this is almost as bad as when I read kj1980's Matsuribayashi-hen translation after watching only 6 or 7 episodes of Higurashi, or how I've read Hinano's entire CLANNAD game storyline synopsis. I have only myself to blame.

Although...this didn't really spoil all that much for me. I think I've already picked up most of the plot points simply through browsing anime forums and blogs. Besides, I have no problem with being spoiled...

Anyway, the only two episodes I've seen so far are episode 1...and episode 12 (I knew enough of the story to not be lost with ep 12...plus, I know about EFZ Misuzu's Final Memory, which is spoilerific enough). I know. Kagikkos may proceed to chase me with torches and pitchforks now. But I will say that AIR episode 12 officially makes my list of "Really Good Episode 12's", which includes other fantastic episodes like "Live A Live", "Deviant Waltz", "Discovered Attack", and "Twilight of the Papers". Yes, I blatantly stole this from Jason Miao of AoMM, who made quite a good point in noticing how episode 12's were usually among the best of many good series.

OK, I'm done rambling. Proceed to mock me now. >_<

If you didn't watch the first half, you missed a lot of the story. The plot is uncertain for the first half of the show, focusing on several subplots. After they're all exhausted, it moves on to the main plot.

Rengemaru

2007-06-19, 07:25

However, it's left up to speculation whether the second one will ever be broken, and if not, Kanna will continue to reincarnate into bodies that will never live past 16. Sora is shown flying away to find Kanna at the end, presumably so he can break the second curse. In addition, the children shown are most likely Yukito and Misuzu's reincarnations. So although it leaves some things unanswered, it hints at hope.
It's true that Yukito's flight will remain a mystery and a key to confirm whether the girl in the end is Misuzu or Kanna. But remember that reincarnations in AIR's world don't follow the regular time line. Yukito transformed into a crow at episode 7 (or something, I forgot it on purpose and I don't want to check it for the time being) and was reincarnated back at episode 1. So it could be possible that Yukito went looking for Kanna in the sky and broke the second curse. Resulting in reincarnating her into that little girl at the end (which is before the start of Yukito's flight).

Another key to the girl's identity would be the identity of the boy that came along her. Since he said "we are given a new start" it indicates that those two were a couple together in the past and suffered horrible fate (Ryuuya X Kanna OR Yukito X Misuzu). It's up the viewer to choose between one of the couples and get his own conclusion of the story. It is an ero-game after all ;)

But personally, I'm going with the Ryuuya X Kanna reincarnation, because of the reincarnation time line point I mentioned and because of the girl's hair color. It was blue, like Kanna's beautiful hair.

Ziv

2007-06-19, 16:32

It's true that Yukito's flight will remain a mystery and a key to confirm whether the girl in the end is Misuzu or Kanna. But remember that reincarnations in AIR's world don't follow the regular time line. Yukito transformed into a crow at episode 7 (or something, I forgot it on purpose and I don't want to check it for the time being) and was reincarnated back at episode 1. So it could be possible that Yukito went looking for Kanna in the sky and broke the second curse. Resulting in reincarnating her into that little girl at the end (which is before the start of Yukito's flight).

Another key to the girl's identity would be the identity of the boy that came along her. Since he said "we are given a new start" it indicates that those two were a couple together in the past and suffered horrible fate (Ryuuya X Kanna OR Yukito X Misuzu). It's up the viewer to choose between one of the couples and get his own conclusion of the story. It is an ero-game after all ;)

But personally, I'm going with the Ryuuya X Kanna reincarnation, because of the reincarnation time line point I mentioned and because of the girl's hair color. It was blue, like Kanna's beautiful hair.
The fact that she reincarnated at all shows that the curse is not broken. The reason she's dying young is because a human body cannot contain the soul of a winged being.

FatPianoBoy

2007-06-19, 16:50

The fact that she reincarnated at all shows that the curse is not broken. The reason she's dying young is because a human body cannot contain the soul of a winged being.

In Buddhism (and I think Shintoism), souls will reincarnate regardless of a curse.

If only we could check the little kid's back...
;)

Ziv

2007-06-19, 23:52

In Buddhism (and I think Shintoism), souls will reincarnate regardless of a curse.

If only we could check the little kid's back...
;)

Not in the case of Kanna. Don't you remember the lore for winged beings? They were supposed to be messengers who went to and from earth. Kanna, however, is being forced to reincarnate rather than return to where she came from. It's the reason that other winged beings don't have the same problem as her.

Mirrinus

2007-06-20, 02:13

OK, I have seen up through episode 9 now. I'll probably finish tomorrow. ^_^

Anyway, I don't think the show follows Buddhism's rules regarding reincarnation. It seems like Kanna is the only character bound by reincarnation, really. Kano got to see her mother's spirit to thank her, while Ryuuya and Uraha were shown reuniting with one another after death at the end of ep. 9. To me, it seems more plausible that the characters in AIR end up in some sort of spiritual heaven or something beyond the sky (pardon the cheesiness). I don't see much evidence for reincarnation to be a rule that anyone besides Kanna and maybe Yukito must follow.

That's why I don't like how the movie stated that Yukito was Ryuuya's reincarnation. It's less problematic to say that Yukito is merely Ryuuya's descendant who has inherited his will to save Kanna. I'd also consider him the only other character who could reincarnate, as demonstrated by Sora. But here lies the problem: what then do I make of the two kids at the end?

As stated earlier, I'm assuming that reincarnation isn't the rule in AIR, but Kanna and Yukito were merely the exception. It's possible then that the girl at the end was Kanna reincarnated, with the curse still unbroken. One thing that really bothers me with this idea is that Yukito (whom I assume to be the only living descendant of Ryuuya right now) left no children, so Ryuuya's lineage has effectively ended with him. So if Kanna did reincarnate again as part of the curse, who is left to free her of it? I refuse to accept that Kanna's doomed to be cursed forever with the departure of Ryuuya's final descendant. So what now?

My current theory? I'm still inclined to believe that the boy at the end is Yukito reincarnated, as shown by his recognition of Yukito and Misuzu, and the words he whispers to them regarding their fate. The girl, meanwhile, I believe is Kanna's next reincarnation. She has no memory of her past lives, but Yukito can partially remember what has happened (like Sora). Perhaps a millenium's worth of unfulfilled wishes in Yukito's doll have finally burst forth and gifted Yukito with the ability to reincarnate alongside Kanna's reincarnation, to continue being with her while the curse is still around. I think that's what he (Sora) meant at the end when he said he'll continue to search for her, and welcome a new beginning. I believe the curse has been weakened, as Kanna's reincarnations are now able to feel love and friendship without pain, but I think they may still die young. Despite this, Yukito will continue to be around to accompany them, and perhaps eventually build up enough happy memories to break the curse entirely, thus freeing both him and Kanna of their imprisonment in the reincarnation cycle. At that point, they will finally be free to journey to heaven or whatever it is (you know, where Kano's mom, Ryuuya, and Uraha are).

Speaking of which, I believe Kanna's reincarnations aren't copies of her soul, but merely vessels for her soul to be poured into. Thus, they are all separate beings. So at the end, perhaps Yukito will also be reunited with Misuzu, who's currently waiting in the same place as Ryuuya and co. Of course, this is sorta more wishful thinking on my part, as I don't have much evidence from the show to back it up.

Anyway, this theory reconciles the children at the end with the notion that reincarnation isn't normal for everyone else. It's what I've come up with and believe...for now. How does it stack up?

FatPianoBoy

2007-06-20, 02:42

Not in the case of Kanna. Don't you remember the lore for winged beings? They were supposed to be messengers who went to and from earth. Kanna, however, is being forced to reincarnate rather than return to where she came from. It's the reason that other winged beings don't have the same problem as her.

Hmm... good point :heh:
Curse not broken, then.

That's why I don't like how the movie stated that Yukito was Ryuuya's reincarnation. It's less problematic to say that Yukito is merely Ryuuya's descendant who has inherited his will to save Kanna. I'd also consider him the only other character who could reincarnate, as demonstrated by Sora.

So, if Yukito wasn't Ryuuya's reincarnation, then what do you make of the scene where Yukito hallucinated being slashed across his back along with an identical scar to the one Ryuuya had?

Everything else seems to make pretty good sense, though.

Robotnik

2007-06-20, 02:49

So, if Yukito wasn't Ryuuya's reincarnation, then what do you make of the scene where Yukito hallucinated being slashed across his back along with an identical scar to the one Ryuuya had?

Why wouldn't it be possible to be reincarnated as one of your own descendants? We've already been shown that reincarnations don't follow linear time (next reincarnation can be in the past (Sora)) and that reincarnations of the same person can coexist in the same time (Yukito and Sora).

Mirrinus

2007-06-20, 02:54

So, if Yukito wasn't Ryuuya's reincarnation, then what do you make of the scene where Yukito hallucinated being slashed across his back along with an identical scar to the one Ryuuya had?

I believe that event was a manifestation of Ryuuya's will upon Yukito, showing that out of all his descendants, it's Yukito who most embodies his unbending will to free Kanna. Ryuuya's scar across his back symbolized how much he valued Kanna and his iron will to live for her sake; he was willing to even risk death for the sake of obeying her order not to kill. Similarly, it was around that point that Yukito had resolved to sacrifice his own life for the sake of Misuzu's. I don't think any of Yukito's previous ancestors had shown quite that level of devotion to Kanna's reincarnations, so perhaps that scar was a special mark denoting his importance in the final achievement of Ryuuya's will.

I must say, for a series that I already knew the whole story to before I even saw a single episode, this certainly is engaging me thoroughly. I blame Kyoto Animation and Key/Visual Arts for keeping me up at night and making me not get enough sleep for work tomorrow. >_<

FatPianoBoy

2007-06-20, 05:35

Hmm... I suppose we'll just have to agree to disagree on that point. Unless someone who's gone through the whole game would like to interject with some bit of information that wasn't in the anime, there's no way to prove or disprove either.
The reason I assume it was Ryuuya's soul over your idea is really little more than the theme of reincarnation being so prevalent, it would seem a bit silly to break away from it so ambiguously. That's a pretty subjective opinion, so I'll just leave it alone.

celcius

2007-06-20, 05:43

I'm rather inclined to think the Yukito is Ryuuya's descendant, seeing as they were the one charged with freeing Kanna and not anyone else. =/
It's not the best reasoning around, but yeah.

And Yukito feeling Ryuuya's slash could be due to the curse. IIRC, the curse doesn't only work for Misuzu but for whoever gets close to her as well.
Yukito said something like this in ep.6 or 7: "I have to leave, otherwise none of us will survive through this."

Kinny Riddle

2007-06-20, 11:21

I'm rather inclined to think the Yukito is Ryuuya's descendant, seeing as they were the one charged with freeing Kanna and not anyone else. =/
It's not the best reasoning around, but yeah.

There is no need to even think, Yukito IS the descendant of Ryuuya and Uraha. If the text in the game hasn't already made that clear, Kyo-Ani made sure to add the montage of images showing Yukito in the background while Uraha explains her "master plan" to save Kanna in episode 9, dispelling any doubts of that fact. Besides, don't you find the doll that Uraha knitted looks very familiar? :D

And Yukito feeling Ryuuya's slash could be due to the curse. IIRC, the curse doesn't only work for Misuzu but for whoever gets close to her as well.

I'm of the same opinion. It just so happens that Yukito is also the descendant of Ryuuya and the (at first unknowing) successor to his ancestors' will. Apart from that, it's not impossible that anyone else that got too close to Misuzu would also encounter the same literally painful vision of Kanna's past as well.

This was the main reason why Misuzu tried her best to not tell Haruko about her dreams after Haruko returned.

Mirrinus

2007-06-20, 20:41

Those are some very good points about Yukito/Ryuuya's scar as related to the curse.

I was also thinking, even if reincarnation wasn't the norm in the AIR world, could Kanna have still reincarnated as the little girl at the end of ep. 12 even if the curse had been broken? What if that was one final reincarnation that takes place after the curse is broken, to fulfill her mother's wish that she, Kanna, may live like a normal human girl without suffering the burden of the winged ones (ep. 9)? Then that girl in ep. 12 may really be Kanna, freed from the curse, and given one more chance at life so that she may experience what her mother had wished for her. And perhaps Yukito, as the descendant of Ryuuya who finally succeeded in breaking the curse, was chosen to accompany her one last time.

So many possibilities...

Btw, I finally finished the series (except for the recap episode...hope I'm not missing much, lol). There's just something charming about watching it in the heat of summer. Too bad I'm nowhere near the sea, and my summer vacation consists of me working 8 or more hours a day in a laboratory assisting in research on Alzheimer's disease. Which Misuzu seemed to have...I must try my best for her sake. :P

Pendevous

2007-06-21, 12:26

Actually, I like the anime a lot, but I expected the ending to be something more, well, magical. I want Sora to be a human again and go back to being Yukito. :(

Mokona

2007-07-22, 14:19

but still it was such a beautifull and sad ending :sad:

Sesshys Sazzy Angel

2007-07-30, 03:34

Samatarou

2007-08-04, 16:03

i died when Misuzu and Kanna died T-T i couldnt stop crying my heart out..... and like is there going to be a 2nd season?/ coz it like stopped with the 2 kids walking off or did it just left us with that??
Watch the frivolous Summer Specials - they're the antidote to the sad ending.

I can't imagine there being a second season. The original series was too short though, they could have told the story better if they'd been able to take their time a bit more at some points in the story. Well maybe.

Although not everyone agrees, I recommend watching the movie too, simply because it does shed a bit more light on the story by retelling it from a different point of view, and so makes up a bit for some of the shortcomings of the TV series.

felix

2007-08-13, 04:55

Thinking about it, I can't say I agree. Many of the points had their fair share of exposure, any more and it would have been unnecessary. Though I suppose some of them could have been more detailed.

Wuya

2007-08-15, 18:17

im scared to watch it again...
i really don't want to be depressed for 2 weeks again...
xD

!!!

anti-random

2007-08-18, 00:47

so sad, so sad, i actually cried.

Wuya

2007-08-18, 01:51

so sad so sad indeed...
after seeing it a second time, i now understand more of the "sweet" part of the bitter sweet ending.

I have to say, my conclusion about the end results definately leaves the possiblity of not the ideal ending.
I do think that only one curse is definatley broke while the other one may be on going...

So if Yukito/Ryuuga was re-incarnated through time and space along with Misuzu/Kana, the curse on Kana on not being able to make friends is lifted, but the ocean may not have drained into enough bowls yet... meaning the re-incarnatino for Kana is not definately over... so there may be more vessels before the last bit of the soul of the wing being can be placed in a human safely for that human to live out a full and happy life. Since it didnt directly tell if the reincarnation process was done... it will remain unanswered.
But though Yukito died, his re-incarnated self will carry out the remaining will... through his decendants, if Kana's reincarnation curse was not broken, they will make sure each of the reincarnation of Kana lived a happy life and continue until the "last bit of water" (angel's soul) does not overflow when poured into the "bowl" (human vessel)...

Vexx

2007-08-18, 02:03

Seriously, just hearing the piano interludes and themes make me tighten up

anti-random

2007-08-18, 04:57

it kind of reminds me f the bittersweet ending of chrno crusade

genesis78

2007-08-24, 20:38

just finished the series, specials and movie, im about to start the game and thanks to agth and atlas, ill actually understand the text. though all my questions have been answered so far thanks to reading the thread, ill say i really liked the show, though i was annoyed at the end beecause yukito was still a crow >_<, still, amazing series overall and def one of my favs

HashiriyaR32

2007-08-25, 01:39

Finally finished the last 7 episodes of the series. I'm gonna have so much staying awake later on in the day.

ElecNinja

2007-08-26, 20:07

boggart

2007-08-27, 04:16

I am re-watching Air again... and still, I am amazed at the quality of the sky scenes...

Ziv

2007-08-27, 06:27

Wow, that actually brought water to my eyes.
One of the not-so happy endings.

Really surprised me. I thought it was going to be a nice little happy ending with Misuzu living. But, she died.

O.O
But after she died, the part after seemed like a happy ending. Which, quite confused me. It's like a sad happy ending.

That's because now Kanna's reincarnations will be able to make friends without dying. In addition, there's still hope that Sora will be able to find Kanna and dispel the curse that's forcing her to reincarnate into human bodies that just end up dying before the age of 16.

K3cT

2007-08-27, 17:41

There's a bit where it's explained in the game that if the last child of the stars (winged being) can manage to get happy memories, the passing of memories of the stars will be stopped. Since the winged beings are burdened with this task, I guess it's safe to say that the burden has been lifted since Misuzu has finally managed to attain happiness in the end. No more memory passing means that the next re-incarnation can finally lead a normal human life. This is true I suppose since the girl in the epilogue doesn't appear to remember anything at all from her previous lives while the boy strangely does.

K3cT

2007-08-27, 17:59

HaZzArD

2007-09-01, 00:28

The ending made me cry like a baby, i didn't cry like that since Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien , when haruka and takayuki said there goodbyes at the end of the show...:'(

Rengemaru

2007-09-02, 23:05

Little late but...
Thinking about it, I can't say I agree. Many of the points had their fair share of exposure, any more and it would have been unnecessary. Though I suppose some of them could have been more detailed.
Simply put, the Aozora scene at ep13 (where Misuzu dies) was about 4 min long in the anime. I saw a movie of it over youtube the other day and the same scene was about 14 mins long (in the voiced version of the game, hence, it will be faster than if someone took their time and read it slowly like in the old game version.) I'll leave the rest parts for you to think about.

johndile

2007-09-07, 07:12

Well seeing as how the two children say "To them, cruel days, and to us, a new beginning" it is implied it is them in a way and the curse about friends is broken and when misuzu chooses her move and hugs her is sorta like the love of the mum one breaking so yea

grey_moon

2007-09-22, 08:42

Right after watching it again I have a new theory for the boy and girl, which could be based totally on my clutching at straws for a happy ending for Misuzu and Yukito.

I now believe that the boy and girl is Misuzu and Yukito reincarnated. The reason why is that when Yukito cashed in all the wishes he wanted to:

1. Stay by her side and relive life from when they first met
2. Give her happy memories
3. Be with her forever

Point 1 was granted by him becoming the crow and quite cleverly gives us a different POV without the pesky time line continuity issues.

Point 2 was granted by meeting Yukito*, and being given the chance to make good memories with her mother**.

Point 3 is why I believe that the boy and girl are Misuzu and Yukito as fulfilment of that wish. I believe that Kanna at the end of epi 12 is still alone in the sky, and Sora who is an aspect of Yukito and all of the Kunisaki wishes carries on with their quest to save her.

Therefore I have selfishly satisfied my need to see Yukito and Misuzu have the happy ending that they richly deserve.

*Having Yukito affirm their relationship when he converts back from being Sora I think cements her memories of Yukito as good memories.

**Not just the time spent with her during summer, but how Haruka said to her that she doesn't need anything else (friends, new clothes, luxuries, or anything), just being with her is enough. I'm sure she conveyed her feelings and memories of how she now wanted to have lived their lives to Misuzu before she passed away *sniffle*.

Just writing that has made me sniffle again.

Ahasuerus

2007-09-24, 19:32

Ziv

2007-09-28, 01:49

I finally got around to watching this (after seeing Kanon), and wow, what a great (if sad) story. Misuzu was such a sweetheart, and the unflinching manner in which they presented her story was so gut-wrenching. I was struck by the similarity of the latter stage of her story with (you-know-who) of Kanon *zips lips*.

I think that the little girl most certainly must be Misuzu, since that girl IS the icon for the series, and a symbol for the continuation of Life, and Hope. I'm sure there must be a reason why only the boy's hand is shown in that logo, and I guess depends on Yukito's outcome.

Whenever I watch Mushishi I keep imagining that Gingko is simply Yukito continuing on in his travels, awaiting that day when he can finally free Kanna :)

I really wanted a resolution for her story; it's not right that she is still alone in her torment. Oh well, that's what imaginations are for (and positive thoughts) :D
It's been discussed to death, but Kanna is not in torment. There were two curses placed on Kanna. One from hugging her mother which made it so that she could never make friends lest her and the person she made friends with both die. The second is the one placed on her by the Buddhist monks which forced her to constantly reincarnate. The first curse was broken when Misuzu and her mother bonded. The second is unresolved, but it's implied that Sora went out to find a way to break it.

iamthebest22

2007-09-30, 20:03

Well, at least she could make friends now, and that's a good thing. I wouldn't mind her being reincarnated though, other than maybe the fact that she would remember everything and well maybe feel bad. Nevertheless, despite the sad ending, (I literally cried for a long time), I would had wished that there was a second season, even though it's unlikely, whenever I think about this series, I'd always hope that Misuzu wouldn't die, although she has to, since the soul of an angel is too much for a human body to bear.

God I'm shedding tears again, and I haven't even watched Kanon yet.

grey_moon

2007-10-01, 11:20

The second is unresolved, but it's implied that Sora went out to find a way to break it.

Not just Sora as the feather from Kano and from Michiru (cry) should also bring good memories to Kanna too. I wonder how many other feathers are out there? The main problem with the feathers is that unless someone like Yukito is there to resolve the issue then the feather might just add another bad memory to Kanna :(

Magothys

2007-10-30, 22:23

While the reincarnation curse may still be effective at the time the series ends, another thing to consider is the love relation between Ryuuya/Yukito and Kanna/Misuzu (Kanna kisses Ryuuya; Yukito wishes to be with Kanna/Misuzu forever, etc.). Kanna/Misuzu wouldn't normally reincarnate, and Ryuuya/Yukito does. Recalling that the two stay together from Ryuya/Yukito's wish (and possibly with old memories - Ryuuya's end comment), lifting the curse would likely seperate them for who knows how long (whenever Ryuuya would stop reincarnating and move on to the afterlife). In that sense, the "curse" would be a good thing. So perhaps Air has the better ending after all. :)

Thinkersblock07

2007-12-16, 23:51

It says here (http://cupped-expressions.net/air/info-moreexplanations.php) that the little kids shown at the end of Air aren't Yukito's or Misuzu's reincarnations.

KEY as the Two Kids

From: "Colourful Pure Girl" in the March edition.

"The author declared that those two kids were not the reincarnation of any of the characters and he doesn't want people think of air like that."

The author also says that those two kids were more of outsider view point. It's like themselves (KEY) are watching the story.

Also, those two children said something at the end, but from the information provided on the site, it says the sentence was not fully represented. There should have some word to make the sentence "right." The sentence before they change was "cruel days are waiting upon them, new days are welcoming us." After putting words into the sentence to make it "right" it reads as "memories of stars gave them cruel days, and give us new memory to start."

So I suppose all theories of Yukito and Misuzu being reincarnated are false. Maybe only Sora and Haruko know Misuzu's and Yukito's tale and they'll pass it on so other people could know...

Talk about depressing. :(
KEY just wants everyone to be miserable. J/k

Jeiku

2007-12-18, 14:43

For some reason I find that annoying for the writer to point that out. A conclusion as open-ended as AIR's is going to be interpreted in more ways than one, and only the writers are going to know the answers. Stepping up and elaborating on one thing while not addressing another bigger question defeats its purpose, in my opinion. I am aware that others like Miyazaki do it as well, but endings in his movies (the ones I've seen anyway) were resolved nicely, whereas for AIR, questions on whether the curses are broken, what will happen with Haruko*, and what will happen to Yukito/Sora still remain. It made me feel happy to think that the two children at the beach were reincarnations of Yukito and Misuzu (or even Ryuya or Kanna, which would probably have been more likely) but since any possibility of any other theory is out of the window, oh well.

*There's still a nagging thought in the back of my head that tells me that Haruko will die soon due to becoming close to Misuzu... unless that curse only affects normal friendship and not maternal love.

CrazySunshine

2007-12-22, 11:06

For some reason I find that annoying for the writer to point that out.

I agree with this as well, series that are even remotely open-ended should always have the viewer/reader choose their own ending, even little comments such as those can ruin it for you.

And open-ended series are just so much better because it forces you to think and beg for more.

Not to bring the manga into this but That ending was somewhat happy and Misuzu didn't even die, though the manga was totally different and I just read it for kicks...

Though I really liked the ending... slightly wish it had more "BAM" to it where it made me collapse into tears even more but still, IMO, a wonderful end.

Vexx

2007-12-26, 15:27

Sometimes the authors themselves have no idea what they have wrought or why people interpret it as they do :) All the authors have done is released the ideas and people process them as based on their own experiences.

DukeTheGold

2008-01-05, 11:36

Arr...Talk about depressing information, if what Thinkersblock07 posted was true, then AIR's conclusion was tragic indeed. Hereby I was under the delusion that Kanna's cursed cycle of reincarnation finally came into a peaceful resolution. Pity it was not the case. Those two kids are in fact non-special but only symbols of minor meaning. Even if Misuzu's inability to befriend others is negated, she is still cursed to be reincarnated repeatedly and perish in a tragic demise each time at the age of 15.

What of Yukito? He is doomed to fly over the sky in search of a fruitless end - a quest that can not be fulfilled. Shall he die as a crow and never enjoy even a proper burial?

That is sad indeed. Talk about depression...good thing I am already over AIR.

kirokokori

2008-02-22, 17:13

Seriously? Wow, that sucks. I swear, KEY loves to crush people.

I always interpreted the kids as the final reincarnation of Yukito/Ryuuya and Misuzu/Kanna, with the curse now broken, so they could finally be together happily.

You know what, screw you KEY, I'm taking what I thought as canon.

Also, hi, new here.

Ahasuerus

2008-02-22, 17:47

LMAO!!! This is funny as hell... I was JUST thinking of this thread when this notification popped up in my email! (FWIW, an earlier snarky comment in response to a question I had about the ending).

I tend to echo your thoughts, kirokokori :D

Besides, if this isn't so, WHY include the two kids so prominently in the logo?

BTW, just bought Air the Movie, and it wasn't nearly as suckish as what people make it out to be. Definitely not on a par with the series, but well worth watching if you're a fan :)

I do have to say that I haven't seen more deeply moving stories than those of Air and Kanon, ever. So, props to the creators :) But just as in musical lyrics' interpretation, the "message" is whatever the listener/observer feels it to be. Oftentimes this deviates from the artist's original vision, but I've read where they delight in seeing the different ways in which people interpret their vision/story/lyric :cool:

GuidoHunter_Toki

2008-02-22, 21:39

Even though the thing with the kids is like that for the people who created Air, I still believe with how the way Air is done and the open endedness of it all, it ultimately leaves it up to the viewer to decide for themselves.

kirokokori

2008-02-23, 09:14

I agree that Air and Kanon are very deeply moving, I cried really hard watching both of them. (Especially the end of Makoto's arc in Kanon, and the end of Air), and that the ending is really up to interpretation.

Also, this is sort of off topic, but it's still about KEY, anyways.
I've had the idea that all their stories (Clannad, Kanon, Air, etc., maybe not Planetarian) take place in the same 'universe', seem reasonable to any of you? My friends and I were joking about this and saying that Yukito, Yuuichi, and Tomoya should meet up so they can complain about how they can never just meet a NORMAL girl, who won't die/disappear/etc. lol

Ahasuerus

2008-02-23, 16:42

A friend pointed out an interesting (well, to me anyway :heh:) thing: The original character designs were done by Itaru Hinoue, one of the co-founders of Key. She was responsible for the art direction of Air, Kanon, and Clannad. Wiki says this about her:

"She is skilled in preserving the psychological description of her characters via their facial expressions."

This is exactly what draws these characters so close to the heart of the viewer, IMHO. It seems that KyoAni picked up and continued this method, adding their own magic to it. I think this contributes heavily to the feeling that these three series are joined at the hip :D

Even though they also did such excellent work on The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Lucky*Star, there's no spiritual connection between them and the trio of Key titles. In fact, Haruhi seems to have more in common with (Shakugan no) Shana's design than any of Key's girls!

But yeah, the trio does seem to inhabit the same universe, where magic isn't in-your-face, but side-by-side with reality, and where working with each other can indeed bring miracles :D

While Air and Kanon are far beyond ranking and rating with me, the jury's still out on Clannad, though I'm enjoying it very much. You can't rate a series before its ending, and there are still questions unanswered (such as the lonely girl and junkified boy). I have high hopes though, based on the quality and stories of Kanon and Air :D

I do agree that a therapist in their universe would not suffer from a shortage of clients :eyespin:

DJ_RockmanX

2008-02-23, 16:51

Even though they also did such excellent work on The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Lucky*Star, there's no spiritual connection between them and the trio of Key titles. In fact, Haruhi seems to have more in common with (Shakugan no) Shana's design than any of Key's girls!

Off topic: Noizi Ito.

Ahasuerus

2008-02-23, 18:14

Off topic: Noizi Ito.

Ah, so that's why :heh:

Well, that explains that (kinda) :p

Then back on topic! WRT Air's ending, its concept of reincarnation is basically off-track anyway, and that's why suspension of disbelief can modify it to the viewer's tastes. It is just a story, anyway :p

For instance, a soul can't (re)incarnate anywhere in the same world twice, at the same time, yet apparently the same soul inhabits Yukito AND Sora. So the viewer has to accept both as being Yukito's soul, which flies against my understanding of it.

OTOH, other versions of reincarnation accept the idea of transmigration, which allows for a human soul to inhabit the body of animals (which personally I have a hard time believing :heh: YMMV).

So, the creators' original intent aside, a healthy suspension of belief can allow all of the Air characters some leeway as to their ultimate fates, depending on the viewer's beliefs :D

Still, it's such a painfully beautiful story, that if you don't over-analyze it, leaves you with a sense of wonderment that continues long after it's over :)

teelotes

2008-02-23, 19:46

It says here (http://cupped-expressions.net/air/info-moreexplanations.php) that the little kids shown at the end of Air aren't Yukito's or Misuzu's reincarnations.

So I suppose all theories of Yukito and Misuzu being reincarnated are false. Maybe only Sora and Haruko know Misuzu's and Yukito's tale and they'll pass it on so other people could know...

I like this explanation better than most reincarnation theories. I think it shows that in the future, the curse would be broken, and that human beings will accept the winged beings and learn from their inherited wisdom of the memories of earth, and thus know about the past. This would also coincide nicely with the "right" intepretation of that last spoken sentence. The children seem to be just one generation after Misuzu, so I guess that implies Misuzu has broken the curse for the next generation.

In a literary sense, the knowledge of the children of the events that lie ahead for Misuzu and Yukito also reflects the viewpoint of us, the viewers, at the end of the series.

Mirrinus

2008-02-23, 19:51

You know, I like that explanation too. I find it amusing whenever a show adds a meta element like that.

Ahasuerus

2008-02-23, 22:55

I like this explanation better than most reincarnation theories. I think it shows that in the future, the curse would be broken, and that human beings will accept the winged beings and learn from their inherited wisdom of the memories of earth, and thus know about the past. This would also coincide nicely with the "right" intepretation of that last spoken sentence. The children seem to be just one generation after Misuzu, so I guess that implies Misuzu has broken the curse for the next generation.

In a literary sense, the knowledge of the children of the events that lie ahead for Misuzu and Yukito also reflects the viewpoint of us, the viewers, at the end of the series.

Great insight :cool: All things considered, that does make a lot of sense :)

I couldn't figure why the "us" in that article was interpreted as being from Key's perspective; if it's from OUR perspective then that opens it up to the above. I like it!

Tragic

2008-02-24, 21:56

I'm with you guys. It is nice to see it from our perspective.

Mushi

2008-02-29, 01:46

"The author declared that those two kids were not the reincarnation of any of the characters and he doesn't want people think of air like that."
Then why do they show Kanna and Ryuuya holding hands (the last scene in the Summer Specials ED) in exactly the same way as the boy and girl at the end of the series ED?

Damn, talk about having the rug pulled out from under your feet. :( I just finished a second viewing of Air and I was really getting into all the discussion of possibilities about the boy and girl, then "thud!"

WTF!!! :mad:

It's like themselves (KEY) are watching the story.
I think that sucks. I think that's a lame perspective.

NOT ONE PERSON INTERPRETED IT THAT WAY! Not even close... as best as I can remember from what I just read. The almighty KyoAni threw something in there that was completely out of synch with the way the events unfold, and now they blame it on poor wording of the lines from the boy? If that's the case they may as well have ended the story with Sora soaring into the sky and left it hanging there.

Just exactly who is this "author?"

Don't think of Air that way.... Pffft... too bad.... too late. :p

Just venting, btw... after spending an hour reading, looking for some glorious insight... only to have that come along and blow chunks all over the place. Bah!

Love the series! Love Kanon! Love Kyoto Animation, too! Their work is brilliant and I'll always keep going back for more "Air" in the years to come.

Ahasuerus

2008-02-29, 02:29

I find it easier (and makes more sense) to just go with what I feel the ending portrayed, even though questions remain when doing so. As quoted elsewhere (can't find it here), it makes more sense to "interpret intuitively rather than analytically". I like that better ;)

In trying to "justify" the ending with regard to the un-named "author's" statement as quoted in that article, it feels a lot less true.

When I read:

Quote:
It's like themselves (KEY) are watching the story.

I felt exactly like:

I think that sucks. I think that's a lame perspective.

...and feel that the official "explanation" still rings false.

Incidentally, I think that the "Key" in parethesis was mistranslated and should mean "the viewer"; that we are watching the story. Still rings false to me, but in giving the benefit of the doubt to Key (for a moment), the "no-reincarnation" theory above is just to fit into that Key-note. I'm not comfortable with it, but it makes sense when trying to fit them together.

THEN we can take the benefit of the doubt back, shrug it off, and enjoy our own interpretations :D

I wish that the "author" hadn't gotten so miffed about it though, jeez :uhoh: Don't they need to get something together with which to follow Clannad? :D

Mushi

2008-02-29, 03:04

...and feel that the official "explanation" still rings false.
I like unusual things. I'm all for unconventional points of view.

But, I just don't get why... oh, WHY... they would use a logo, the very thing that represents the entire series, of a girl that can so easily be connected to the main character in the story and then say she's just an abstract representation of the creators/viewers point of view?

I mean, the whole time... seeing that logo... I wonder, "Who's that girl?" "Who's she holding hands with?" "Why is she cropped so the only part of the boy you see is his hand?" "What's her significance?"

And then to find all the insightful discussion and interesting interpretations here, only to hear from this "author" that she's some "outsider viewpoint."

Baffling....

pac2is

2008-03-08, 10:11

About Yukito again...
He "died" in the TV series, but in the movie he was still alive, after Misuzu died TT_TT
Needed to say that XD

Ketro

2008-03-10, 19:54

Is there a possibility of a 2nd Season, or no? I hope so, this was such a good anime T_T

Jeiku

2008-03-11, 16:07

I don't think so, unless Key decides for whatever reason to make a non-canon sequel like they did with Tomoyo After. Even then, it's kind of doubtful since AIR isn't one of those series with a "life goes on" kind of ending, like Kanon is.

Ahasuerus

2008-03-11, 17:51

I just rewatched episode 12 again just for a refresher. Here's why the reincarnation theory doesn't work: This last scene is simply a re-telling of that earlier episode, where Misuzu and Yukito are on the seawall watching these same children playing on the beach before they walk off-screen.

This latter scene is kind of like a reverse image, only using the children's points-of-view. On the seawall is our original Misuzu and Yukito, so these children can't very well be reincarnated entities of them. The boy does have some precognitive abilty, though, as he knows (and as we know) that the pair on the seawall have "tough times ahead."

So, perhaps using them as a logo, it does signify that with the succeeding generation, therein lies the hope (and the proof?) that the curse has (or will be) broken...

Just more afterthoughts :)

Mushi

2008-03-12, 10:44

So, perhaps using them as a logo, it does signify that with the succeeding generation, therein lies the hope (and the proof?) that the curse has (or will be) broken...

Just more afterthoughts :)
That's as good of a take as any. It wouldn't be the first time I assumed something about an anime only to realize I was way off the mark. :p

I still think the comments of the kids are cryptic. The boy is talking about memories after that montage of images depicting the memories of stars... as told by someone similar to, if not just like, Yukito's mother. What is it he just remembered if not the things that were being shown previously and therefore associated with Yukito's memories?

I don't see anywhere that traditional ideas of reincarnation are used in the story. Yukito comes from a line of magic users and is thus subject to unusual experiences. How is it that Sora and Yukito can exist at the same time? Is Sora really Yukito, or is it just some of Yukito's memories that transfer to him?

I don't necessarily see Yukito as a reincarnation of Ryuuya. He is a descendant carrying out Ryuuya's will. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread the idea that Misuzu is not a reincarnation of Kanna, but just an unfortunate girl who happens to get caught up in Kanna's cycle... a vessel that becomes the next attempt of a winged being's spirit to find a place to exist. That makes as much sense to me as anything else.

Meh... I'm getting confused in trying to think back on what I've read and watched and tie it together, right now. I'll have to watch it again at a later time and try to re-digest it from a new perspective. :cool:

As far as the kids... I'm left with the notion, for now, that they are a representation of themes and ideas from the story... hence the logo of the girl. Even though it makes no sense at all. :confused:

Oh, well.... file parts of this one into the "WTF is going on here?" category. :D

I just know that I love all of the girls and I cry when I watch their stories. Stories about memories... which is really what life boils down to, I suppose. What are we without our memories, good and bad?

Ahasuerus

2008-03-12, 14:59

It wouldn't be the first time I assumed something about an anime only to realize I was way off the mark.

Ditto LOL I owe a lot to AnimeSuki's forums for illumination:cool: Even so, for some series things still aren't made absolutely clear, but I guess some anime is meant to be that way :heh:

The boy is talking about memories after that montage of images depicting the memories of stars... as told by someone similar to, if not just like, Yukito's mother.

I was reminded of the very first scene in Air, and among the last, of those voice-over narrations, that this was in fact happening through these children, that the "Story" was, and is being, handed down parent to child over generations :)

How is it that Sora and Yukito can exist at the same time? Is Sora really Yukito, or is it just some of Yukito's memories that transfer to him?

I had major problems with this as well, and had to chalk it up as just being a device of the story that I just needed to accept. One theory is that Yukito died offscreen due to the curse where Kanna's loved ones perished as well, but that's pretty unsatisfying to me; that ought to be something they'd have showed or explained.

I don't necessarily see Yukito as a reincarnation of Ryuuya. He is a descendant carrying out Ryuuya's will. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread the idea that Misuzu is not a reincarnation of Kanna, but just an unfortunate girl who happens to get caught up in Kanna's cycle... a vessel that becomes the next attempt of a winged being's spirit to find a place to exist. That makes as much sense to me as anything else.

These two points do make sense; since I believe in reincarnation I might be bolstering my "Yukito IS Ryuuya" theory by attributing it to that where it may not be accurate with regard to the story. But then, with Misuzu/Kanna... Kanna still exists somewhere above the skies, while on Earth Misuzu suffers Lady K's curse(s), so again the problem arises where the same "person" seems to co-exist with themselves :twitch:

I'm getting confused in trying to think back on what I've read and watched and tie it together, right now. I'll have to watch it again at a later time and try to re-digest it from a new perspective.

:heh: I think that the more we think about it the more thinking is required LOL Perhaps it is better to "interpret intuitively" after all ;) By the way, for another perspective, try Air the Movie, which does a nice job of it. The cover showing Misuzu with wings seems a dead giveaway :cool: It's not as bad as some make it out to be; it just pales in the magnificence of Air TV.

Stories about memories... which is really what life boils down to, I suppose. What are we without our memories, good and bad?

That seems to be key (no pun intended) to the Key/KyoAni "trilogy" of Air, Kanon, and to a lesser extent (so far) of Clannad. Since memories, as are dreams, are so intangible, maybe it is this that makes these series so magical, and why they resonate so strongly with those that Feel...

Just another theory, I guess :D

pcube19622

2008-03-13, 10:34

There was another thing that i notice....that kinda weakens the "official explanation" upon the boy and the girl.
there was someone who said "why did the logo only showing the girl and a cropped boy?"...then i noticed the logo doesn't only consist of the girl and the boy, but with a bird hanging above the letter "I". I am thinking that the logo is actually reflecting upon the "AIR arc", in which that sora was with misuzu and we never see yukito's face thus making the boy cropped away from the logo except his hand.

well these are just some of my thoughts~
ah~im all confused now- -... by the way i just finished rewatching AIR for the 3rd time^^ still awesome as the first time seeing it~

KholdStare

2008-03-16, 00:00

Mushi

2008-03-18, 06:22

There's just one point that I want to make here. This is KyoAni's adaptation, and the "misrepresentation" of the last lines of the series might just be KyoAni's own take at Air, so whatever Key says, it applies for the visual novel all right, but not for the series. I think that it's still an open ending, and we're free to interpret it in any way we choose.

Basically what I'm saying is because they messed up those lines, we don't have to interpret them as what wasn't there to begin with.
Thank you! http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/grinser/grinning-smiley-003.gif

...then i noticed the logo doesn't only consist of the girl and the boy, but with a bird hanging above the letter "I".
Not to discount your obversation, but I think that's more of an artistic embellishment on the logo than something symbolic. The bird is more like a dot on the "i"... Like here:

http://static.animesuki.com/f/logo/2007/08/banner-045.jpg

;)

And it looks more like a seagull than a crow, to me. Plus, the whole "wings and feathers" thing is represented by birds in general.

Kobukson

2008-03-25, 13:54

I had major problems with this as well, and had to chalk it up as just being a device of the story that I just needed to accept. One theory is that Yukito died offscreen due to the curse where Kanna's loved ones perished as well, but that's pretty unsatisfying to me; that ought to be something they'd have showed or explained.

These two points do make sense; since I believe in reincarnation I might be bolstering my "Yukito IS Ryuuya" theory by attributing it to that where it may not be accurate with regard to the story. But then, with Misuzu/Kanna... Kanna still exists somewhere above the skies, while on Earth Misuzu suffers Lady K's curse(s), so again the problem arises where the same "person" seems to co-exist with themselves :twitch:

From my viewing, I believe part of the issue that viewers, especially Westerners, have with the reincarnation issue that seems to come up in AIR is because of our misconceptions about reincarnation.

The basic issue is we often mistake the Buddhist teachings of reincarnation to mean the same conscious personality of a person we know once existed in a previous time in a different body, under a different name. HOWEVER, the teachings of the Buddha directly reject this. The concept of anātman contradicts this in that the elements that compose the body and mind are ever-changing and that no immutable self lies within us. The easiest way to put it is how Wikipedia states it:

"The consciousness arising in the new person is neither identical to, nor different from, the old consciousness, but forms part of a causal continuum or stream with it."

So, despite how Misuzu and Yukito seem completely different from Kanna and Ryuuga because their personalities differ so greatly (Kanna vs. Misuzu really highlights this), they can be the reincarnation of the skandhas, or aggregates, that made up those individuals and have been changed by each subsequent rebirth. In this interpretation, because skandhas continue to exist beyond the body, Kanna and Ryuuga would live on and be reborn subsequently, but these aggregates that once formed them will be changed in the person they now reside in resulting in a different personality. This also explains why Sora can be a reincarnation of Yukito despite living in the same time period.

That probably made no sense, but Buddhism is pretty dense in its theology, so I have a hard time verbalizing it :( . If someone can do better, please do.

Ahasuerus

2008-03-25, 14:45

The basic issue is we often mistake the Buddhist teachings of reincarnation to mean the same conscious personality of a person we know once existed in a previous time in a different body, under a different name.

Speaking for myself, I wasn't referring to the Buddhist concept of reincarnation, but rather the concept of the immortality of the soul and its neccesary rebirths throughout time in order to cleanse itself of the bad karma accumulated in previous lives, eventually purifying itself until no further incarnations are neccesary. Personalities can always be different, but the soul remains the same; there is only one, which is the "I am" of the individual.

To explain further would be to delve deeper into theosophy and metaphysics, so I'll leave it at that ;)

Kobukson

2008-03-25, 15:53

Speaking for myself, I wasn't referring to the Buddhist concept of reincarnation, but rather the concept of the immortality of the soul and its neccesary rebirths throughout time in order to cleanse itself of the bad karma accumulated in previous lives, eventually purifying itself until no further incarnations are neccesary. Personalities can always be different, but the soul remains the same; there is only one, which is the "I am" of the individual.

To explain further would be to delve deeper into theosophy and metaphysics, so I'll leave it at that ;)

Karma, huh? Well, that still mostly aligns with the basic concept I was trying to convey about Reincarnation 1 != Reincarnation 2. I tried going from the Buddhist approach since they do make several mentions to monks during the Summer Arc (who are mostly likely Buddhist) and during the Summer Special 2 is when Kanna mentions a "dream" of having her mother beside her in some distant land. Kanna's description mostly fits the Buddhist interpretation in how she describes she was different in shape and form and questioning if it really was her or not.

Ahasuerus

2008-03-25, 16:16

^ I agree that it makes more sense to approach it from the Buddhist perspective, but to be honest I don't know much about that religion though I've studied other aspects of reincarnation for many years (and in fact incorporated it in my own story). But I've found that Air has diverse elements to it (like the cross pendants on the uniforms) so probably have superimposed my own ideas onto it where it actually is not meant to support any of them. Since it's essentially a fantasy, I let my imagination go with it ;)

konstargirl

2008-05-04, 07:05

qtipbrit

2008-05-06, 00:06

Well, on the current topic, I understand "reincarnation" as Buddhism explains it (or at least whichever teachings the particular brand of Buddhism I grew up with taught.), so when I hear "reincarnated as the crow" or "reincarnations of Misuzu and Yukito", I don't quite agree.

Personally, I believe it was Yukito who... "occupied" Sora's body just before the Summer arc, but it was not "reincarnation" as a crow persay.

That being said, Yukito and Misuzu being the reincarnations of Ryuuya and Kanna make sense, even according to Buddhist beliefs.
I thought they were. Then who were thouse little kids anyway.
Can't we all keep in mind that Yukito's mind/spirit/chi/etc. was in the crow until the very end?
I first saw them as the next "girl in the sky" and her protector, leaving their story to be told later on, but now that I believe that Misuzu broke the curse with Yukito, she is representative of the "girl in the sky" broken free of the curse and able to live a normal life.
And I think the ending was just too plan sad. I mean I almost cried whne Misuzu died and all of those scenes when she was crying and stuff. :(
Have you no heart? :(

crystalalien87

2008-06-25, 20:19

i just finished watching it and i like it for what it was....i almost cried lol
what i got from it was...
Yukito was reincarnated as the crow to watch over Misuzu...
She got sick and died...and realized threw it all she was still able to be happy...
Yukito was then able to fly into the sky and finally able to be with her...
This is how im going to interpret it so it can put me at ease cuz that whole series had me sad for her...the scene with her walking into her moms arms almost had me crying my heart out...
On the side note i didnt even bother watching the recap and now im debating if the movie is even worth watchin....? i watched about 10minutes and it seems kinda odd to me...but i might pull out a big gulp and deal with the hour and half movie...

Vegard Aune

2008-06-26, 08:00

On the side note i didnt even bother watching the recap and now im debating if the movie is even worth watchin....? i watched about 10minutes and it seems kinda odd to me...but i might pull out a big gulp and deal with the hour and half movie...
Well, from what I heard: The movie is crap, and the TV-series surpasses it in every way. The summer-OVAs (Which are an extension of Kanna's story) are apparently quite good though. Can't say for sure, as I haven't seen them yet, but I'm definitely going to see them once I get that final DVD... The recap-episode can just go throw itself off a cliff though. I just saw the show, I don't need an additional episode to tell me what I just saw.

andiyar

2008-06-26, 08:24

Both the movie, and the Air in Summer OVAs, are well worth watching. However, the movie is not as good, or the same, as Air TV. Air in Summer really belongs to the category of being part of Air TV, and the movie is at a different level... but is still enjoyable. :)

-Andiyar

Deadwings

2008-06-26, 16:35

On the side note i didnt even bother watching the recap and now im debating if the movie is even worth watchin....? i watched about 10minutes and it seems kinda odd to me...but i might pull out a big gulp and deal with the hour and half movie...

Maybe you'd like to see it since it tells the story a different way (Never played the game, so I don't know if the movie's plot is right).
The way I see it, movie is not worth. 90 minutes are not enough to tell the story and...It focuses only on misuzu's story, presenting the other two only as background characters. Other thing, it leaves a few facts unexplained in it's plot, possibly making you don't understand anything if you haven't seen the series

foreverdissevered

2008-09-26, 23:06

Air - for the most part, is probably my favorite anime ever.

However, the ending was heartwrenching. The surging love of Yukito and Misuzu did not seem to be present at all during the last few episodes.. Instead its the will to live or the desire to save.

Perhaps the only thing that drew me to Air was Misuzu's innocence..

othera

2009-01-14, 17:46

Air's my all time favorite series, it even made me cry like 3 times >:

how i saw it, yukito seems to be the bloodline of the girl and the sumurai with kanna(forgot names) and misuzu is the reincarnation of kanna, is this right? (dont quite get the series 100%,)

ShatteredSkys

2009-02-07, 17:39

Hi !
Well i just watched Air to the end and I'm kinda surprised.
While searching the net for some informations about the ending i found this Post, so i decided to sign me up here ^^
It's actually my first Forum I'm signed in but anyway, this is what I think about the ending:
I don't think Misuzu and Yukito "died" at the end, and I got a very special explanation for this...
After Yukito decided to leave Misuzu, he recognized that Mizusu was actually the girl in the sky, and what he was searching for in his life so he went back to her to give her a more time in this world, atleast till the end of this summer.
So, as Yukito gave Misuzu his "energy" to let her continue living , he transformed into sora the crow.
There's one thing I don't understand, after Yukito disappers for the first time, the "old" sora
sits on the table watching Misuzu.She talks to Yukito which isn't there, then you can see Yukitos "soul" inside sora.And what happens ? Sora dissapers! then Yukito appers in his normal form and talks to Misuzu for the last time.
Then after Yuktio's gone, a crow sits on the other table in the room...and you know what ? that wasn't the "old" sora, it was Yukito transformed just into a being which could show Misuzu living after this.
Later , Mizusu "re"connected with her "mother", and deciding to stay with her, she said in one episode, that she felt terrible pain, but this time in her WINGS.
Then in the last episode, she suddenly "died" after she thought she had reached "the finish"
But i don't think she died, i think, that she actually spread her wings, which she always had, but actually hided, and flew in the sky, just like Kanna-sama in the past.
But this time she made it, and reached the sky , and CONTINUED living.
This was the end of the summer, right in this episode, there are some clues how the story continues with Misuzu and Yokito.
In the conversation between Misuzus "mother" and her father, no one mentioned that Misuzu was dead, you can only hear about her "mother" cried because of this.In one shoot you can see her diary's last site, with a drown picture of Mizusu with her "mother" and "sora"
and a text that says:
In this summer, many funny things happened, mother bought me a dinosaur.
I'm happy.
And u can see some pupils, going to school, while waving to Misuzus mother.
When Misuzu had the time to write about the end of this sommer ?
That means the summer is over, and Misuzus time as a normal human too.
In this sommer she started a new life, " grew" up and connected to her family, she actually lived her life in this summer again.
That's why i think she continued living, but as the girl in the sky, just like Kanna-sama
in the past.
And now the part which explains Yokito's continuing journey:
Misuzu's mother talks to "sora" at the beach , and explains him that he don't have a reason to stay here, because Misuzu isn't here aswell.She even asks him if he's the old sora,because he changed so hard.>.<. She walks away, and sora(Yukito) thinks:
"...The girl, which has returned into this infinity, is still alone"
At this moment he spread his wings, ready to start his "new jorney" (yeah i have to mention that, because i'll never forget this moment!)
He also says:"I'll continue searching for her...And one day, I'll bring her back...And start from a new beginning..."And he just fly's into the sky.
This all happened because he entered a "new level" of his journey, chasing the girl with wings in the sky,because he's able to fly now!
The two children at the beach at the end, only show the point of an spectator, because,
the legend of the girl in the sky wasn't a secret, like Michuru told Yokito on the roof not to leave the girl with wings and tell her memories and other storys and rescuing her from her dreams.Otherwise the children show a new path of this journey, and a new story of chasing the girl in the sky.
Who knows.I think the anime ends, like you want it, that's my oppinion.
Maybe I'm wrong, but this is my point of view.I hope whoever reads this understands my standing, though my english isn't very well...

Thank you for reading my text, i hope you enjoyed it! :D
Air is one of my favourite anime's of all time,alltough i started watching them not to far ago.

Xyphon101

2009-02-09, 20:52

I feel sad, I completely misunderstood what happened.

I thought he just walked away when he was trying to cheer her up, but he didn't, apparently. I don't think it explained it, guess I'm just oblivious.

Mushi

2009-02-09, 23:10

I feel sad, I completely misunderstood what happened.
Don't feel too bad about misunderstanding. If you go back even just a couple pages in this thread, you can see that there are a lot of different interpretations about it.

Air is mystical and mysterious, that's part of it's beauty. It really is one of those series that needs to be watched more than once. Don't try too hard to figure it out, just take it in as it goes along and pick up what you can.

Tarha

2009-03-14, 02:33

Wha...? I've never seen anything like that in the TV series, unless it was the ending for the game anyhow...

I'm confident Yukito "died" in a sense at least. My theory is that he placed his spirit into the doll like how his mother had done when he was a child. Through this, Yukito was reincarnated as Sora, somehow... Perhaps because his will to find and help Misuzu was so strong. Also, because Yukito in his human form was simply not good enough, he was unable help Misuzu, but as Sora he could finally look at her in an entirely alternate perspective through speculation. Misuzu finally achieved her "goal" and died, but unlike her tragic predecessors, her life ended with good memories - memories with Yukito and especially with her mother, who was a great driving force for her as well.

... At this point though the curse has not been ended yet. Misuzu's memories were left with Sora, who had to soar beyond the point any human can reach by themselves, the sky, and bring those memories to "she who is waiting in the air," the girl with wings. I believe at this point, the curse finally has been lifted, and the winged girl's pain finally ends after one thousand summers, or something like that. As for Yukito/Sora's fate... who knows. I kind of doubt he goes back to being a human really, but eh. So there's my view on the ending of AIR, and... yeah.

Thank you so much bc i was so confused it makes sense now omg ..wow i was totally lost but do u know what happens in the game how the ending ends just curious. I got another question i cant remember the episode but there are children on the beach a boy and a girl and the boy looks and both yukito and mizuzu and says that they will have a hard ship and then takes the girl he is playing with and says lets go where u wanted to go then he looks back and says that its there beginning or something like that but then the story is not understandable bc then the reincarnation for yukito would be mixed up bc the boy is trying to bring happiness to the little girl who now is the reincarnation of the winged beast. so please help me to understand this

Samatarou

2009-03-14, 20:30

I got another question i cant remember the episode but there are children on the beach a boy and a girl and the boy looks and both yukito and mizuzu and says that they will have a hard ship and then takes the girl he is playing with and says lets go where u wanted to go then he looks back and says that its there beginning or something like that

I think that's in the last ep. Anyway, it was later revealed by the makers of AIR that those children are not the reincarnations of Yukito and Misuzu, they are just bystanders (perhaps representing the viewer), commenting on how things are not really finished yet. I think there's a post in the thread somewhere which explains it more precisely.

Zarn

2009-04-04, 13:59

I think that's in the last ep. Anyway, it was later revealed by the makers of AIR that those children are not the reincarnations of Yukito and Misuzu, they are just bystanders (perhaps representing the viewer), commenting on how things are not really finished yet. I think there's a post in the thread somewhere which explains it more precisely.

Were they not? How silly is that?
I don't quite get how do those kids represent me as a viewer. As a viewer, this scene gave me the feeling that Yukito did eventually return Misuzu (as he promised in the last ep) and started a new life with her, with no hardships whatsoever. I also don't know why would the producers want to make us feel like things are not finished yet. Are they planning on an AIR ~After Story~? Not that I would object to more Misuzu, but isn't the story really finished?

Just when I thought there might be something a little bit happy about this ending... :(

Ryuou

2009-04-04, 14:24

I thought I read somewhere (a long time ago) that those two kids were supposed to represent a new beginning. Not a new beginning for Yukito and Misuzu, since their story came to a close, but a new beginning in general. But I don't know, it's been a while so I probably have that all messed up.

Zarn

2009-04-04, 15:02

I would've liked it better if he stayed with Misuzu as a human to very end, but that's mainly because I really came to like her a lot and hated it when she missed him ^^;. It's a shame they didn't get a chance to be together even though they liked each other, but I guess Yukito would look like a pedo kissing a girl her age. Anyhow, although different people, those kids should've let off as their reincarnations. Perhaps he didn't take back Misuzu after all.

Ryuou

2009-04-07, 16:15

Yeah it would've been nice if they could've been together in a normal sense. But who knows, maybe they're together somewhere in the sky.

Used Can

2009-04-09, 01:22

I think the whole point of the end was that, after a long journey, they were finally able to break free from that curse. Even if they were not together, their love never faded. Even if both of them died, all the things they did together were meaningful.

They may be able to reincarnate and finally be together at some point, but that's beyond the point.

Zarn

2009-04-09, 18:36

Man, this is too sad for me.

Even a week after completing this series, it doesn't get out of my mind. I've had some hard time listening to Aozora as it automatically reminds me of Misuzu. I really miss her. T_T

Meatrose

2009-04-09, 18:45

Man, this is too sad for me.

Even a week after completing this series, it doesn't get out of my mind.

That's what separates the masterpieces from the rest of the shows out there. ;)

Silent Jealousy

2009-04-26, 13:45

in the visual novel, misuzu would die in the end, indeed. :)
but why in the anime she didn't? and so in the manga too...
i'm a bit confused really... :)

but, i prefer to think that misuzu would eventually recover. :)
what a pity, if misuzu really died, yukito's sacrifice which took his own life would be in vain.

Vegard Aune

2009-04-26, 14:42

in the visual novel, misuzu would die in the end, indeed. :)
but why in the anime she didn't? and so in the manga too...
Umm, they made it pretty clear that she was dead at the end of the TV-series too...

Silent Jealousy

2009-04-27, 01:27

Umm, they made it pretty clear that she was dead at the end of the TV-series too...

gah, sorry, looks like you are right, actually i missed eps 12 before and watched eps 13, so i thought she didn't die :)
now after i watched eps 12, i finally know she died :)

EDIT:

i just finished watching the movie and the manga. :)
all of them have a different ending.

in the movie :
misuzu died but yukito didn't disappear, and he was there at the time misuzu died. and after that, he continued his journey

in the manga :
misuzu didn't die and slowly recover, but yukito vanished, but at least his sacrifice to save misuzu didn't end in vain.

Samatarou

2009-04-30, 19:35

Man, this is too sad for me.
Even a week after completing this series, it doesn't get out of my mind.

That's what separates the masterpieces from the rest of the shows out there. ;)

Actually, three years on I find I don't think about Air very much anymore ... ^_^

Edit:
Ak, I just checked and it's FOUR years since the series finished! I can't believe it was so long ago.

GuidoHunter_Toki

2009-05-02, 00:17

I go back and watch the series again every 5 months or so. It's one of those series where I can't get enough of it. Everytime I think I'm done with it for a while it lure me back in.

Nadezda

2009-05-29, 13:48

I just finished watching Air last night and I have to say I'm still torn up. It'll be days before I won't tear up just thinking about the ending. :(

I found this thread searching the net trying to figure out who those children on the beach are supposed be. I like many of the explanations here. :D

Regarding Key's explanation, as someone who's written short stories I'm always surprised when the readers have a completely different take of something I write than what I intended. It makes me re-read the story and let's me see how what was in my head wasn't properly translated to my hands. But I've never corrected the readers. A story must have two things; a teller and a listener. The two don't always agree on every element. But that is what makes a great story. The listener can take a part of themselves and put it in the story, making it their own.